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Sunday, October 25

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And now he is truly feeling the press. A Globe review found that, during the last seven months, Walker has been pursued by multiple financial institutions for unpaid debts totaling more than $4 million. Court documents filed in Illinois and Florida reveal Walker was named a defendant in three recent debt-related civil cases, in addition to the ongoing check-kiting case. His former agent is also after him, citing a heap of unpaid fees. Boston Globe

Near the cabaret bar, the deputies spotted the former Celtics all-star forward, chatting with a group of friends. Harrah’s security officials moved in, discreetly escorting him into an office where the deputies bound the 6-foot-9-inch, 245-pound Walker’s hands behind his back with two pairs of handcuffs and placed him under arrest on an outstanding warrant. The charge: writing 10 bad checks for casino markers totaling $1 million in Las Vegas. When Walker’s high school coach Mike Curta learned of the arrest, he called his former player in disbelief and asked whether there was anything he could do. “Everything’s under control,’’ Walker replied, as Curta recalls it. It wasn’t true then, and it hadn’t been for some time. “Under control’’ has never really described Antoine Walker, on the court or off it. Boston Globe

Several National Basketball Association sources, among them friends and former teammates of Walker’s, said the 33-year-old player may well have squandered much of his $110 million-plus in career earnings. Without a team or contract as the new NBA season begins Tuesday, they’ve heard that Walker is casting about for cash to pay off his debts and is looking to catch on with a team, perhaps even overseas. Boston Globe

“I know Antoine has enjoyed himself,’’ said a former teammate. “He had a good time, as all professionals who are in that situation should. But there’s tough lessons you learn about the responsibilities that come with being a professional athlete that makes a lot of money. Sometimes this is one of the consequences to that.’’ Boston Globe

“In the DA’s office’s last communication with Walker’s attorney, it was reported to us that Mr. Walker was trying to get a job,’’ said Stacey Welling, spokeswoman for Clark County. “If he gets a job, he can potentially enter into a payment plan to pay off the debt. Without a job and means to pay off the debt, criminal proceedings will go forward as planned.’’ Boston Globe

During his heyday with the Celtics, Walker played and lived with brash confidence. On the court, there were the reckless 3-pointers, the improbable game-winning (and sometimes game-losing) shots, the trademark wiggle as he celebrated his biggest baskets. Off the court, there were the cars, the jewelry, the houses, the suits, the gambling. He liked to move in an outsized entourage; his mother estimates that, during his playing days, he was supporting 70 friends and family members in one way or another. And speaking of his mother, he built her a mansion in the Chicago suburbs, complete with an indoor pool, 10 bathrooms, and a full-size basketball court. “Here’s the thing: Antoine always did it big,’’ said another former Celtics teammate. “When you make the large sums of money he made because of a max contract and, from my understanding, a pretty large deal from Adidas, I didn’t think he was living out of his range . . . “But that’s what you see. You really don’t know what’s going on behind doors. Once you start living that lifestyle, it’s hard to stop.’’ Boston Globe

And he faces a host of other claims. This summer J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, Wachovia Bank, and American Express Centurion Bank won decisions against Walker. He was ordered to pay J.P. Morgan Chase $1,571,771.47 and Wachovia $1,540,929.14 - both for failing to pay off sizeable promissory notes. From court documents, the loans appear originally related to Walker’s nonbasketball business endeavors. Boston Globe

Additionally, in March, an arbitrator ruled that Walker owed his former agent, Mark Bartelstein, more than $450,000 in unpaid fees. Bartelstein declined to comment about the matter. “When I heard about [the arrest], my first reaction was, ‘I hope he’s all right,’ meaning he’s all right to pay the bills,’’ said another former Celtic teammate, who remembered Walker as a frequent high-stakes gambler. Boston Globe

When asked about her son’s recent, well-documented financial and legal problems, Diane Walker stood stoically outside her front door. She made a sweeping gesture toward the mansion, moving her hand past a giant brick “W’’ embedded in the driveway. “Antoine is doing great,’’ said Diane. “I have my home. He has his home. If he’s doing so bad, then how could we still be here?’’ Boston Globe

Perhaps the one thing Allen is not interested in discussing these days is the future - at least not the future beyond this season, the final season of his five-year, maximum-salary contract and perhaps his last with the Celtics. "No, I don't worry about it," he claimed as he looked forward to Tuesday night's season opener in Cleveland. "I have been in this position before. When I signed this contract, I knew it was for five years. It's amazing thinking back when I signed it then that those five years have gone by so quickly." Metro West Daily News

Daniels has been in contact with the Cavs. According to sources, the Columbus native and Bowling Green product is attracted to the team because it is near home and it’s a championship contender. At age 34, Daniels would love another ring. He won one as a teammate of Cavs GM Danny Ferry with the Spurs in 1999 and also played when Mike Brown was an assistant with the Spurs. So there is a familiarity there. Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Cavaliers have been in contact with veteran point guard Antonio Daniels, a league source said. Daniels, 34, was waived on Friday by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He won't clear waivers until Tuesday. Morning Journal

A source said Daniels would like to sign for the veteran's minimum of $1,306,455, guaranteed for the year. Morning Journal

Because he took a buyout, it would seem Daniels would be looking for a guaranteed $1.3 million veteran’s minimum contract. The Cavs, however, may be looking to keep roster flexibility by not offering a fully guaranteed deal. Then there would have to be an agreement on a role. It is possible if everyone is healthy that Daniels wouldn’t be in the team’s rotation as the roster is currently set up. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Gilbert said he's confident that James will re-sign with the team. Gilbert has invested millions in upgrading Quicken Loans Arena and building a state-of-the-art practice facility in Independence as part of his goal to make the Cavs an attractive franchise. ''I believe for him, or anybody else, this is the best place to play basketball. Plus it's his hometown. And plus he did say when he was drafted . . . let's light up this town like it's Las Vegas and we're doing our part,'' he said, alluding to his casino effort on the statewide ballot next month. Akron Beacon Journal

Ely was waived & there's been some Suns interest in him, just like each season before this one. If no Collins, they could stay put. Twitter.com

It could be Jake Voskuhl, someone else, or perhaps no one at all. But the Kings' 95-85 loss to Utah in their exhibition finale Friday night at Arco Arena made one thing clear: They could use another big man. After the free-throw lessons, that is, as they hit just 28 of 45 while falling to 2-5 in the exhibition season in front of an announced crowd of 11,104. Sacramento Bee

Yet Westphal has even fewer reserve options with any size than his predecessors did, although that could change. Agent Mark Bartelstein said he has spoken to the Kings about Voskuhl, a 6-11 center who was waived by Dallas on Wednesday. The Kings appear to have some interest, but there remains a hesitance to retain the league limit of 15 players unless the addition is significant. Sacramento Bee

The Rockets took their last step toward trimming their roster to the limit of 15 players Friday, waiving Brent Barry, who has not been with the team since last season. The Rockets had reached an agreement with Barry on a buyout of the remaining season on his deal. He did not join the team in camp. A 14-year veteran, Barry, 37, has not announced his retirement but has begun work with NBA TV. Barry had one season and $2.063 million left on his contract. Barry averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 assists in 56 games last season, his one season with the Rockets after a career highlighted by two titles with the Spurs. Houston Chronicle

The Lakers made their final cut today, waiving Tony Gaffney to trim their roster to 13 players for opening night Tuesday. Gaffney,an undrafted forward from UMass, had his moments during training camp and in seven exhibition appearances. Los Angeles Daily News

Barring a last-minute change, free-agent forward Trey Gilder will make the opening-day roster. The Griz have an NBA maximum 15 players (even with the absence Marko Jaric). Memphis Commercial Appeal

Ryan Bowen is the last man standing among a group that started with four players fighting for the Thunder’s 15th and final roster spot. The Thunder waived Mike Harris on Friday after parting ways with Tre Kelley and Michael Ruffin. Oklahoman

"We all understand what's going on here," David Lee says. "The plan was to save a lot for the future and have a big summer for the organization. But in order for us to make it as good a summer as we can, we have to put something together this year. "That's why this is definitely not a throwaway season." New York Daily News

Joe Johnson wants to believe that his Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of being contenders in the Eastern Conference. They should be getting close. But going into the start of the NBA's regular season next week, Johnson isn't so sure anymore. "Sometimes, I can't tell if we really want it,'' Johnson told FanHouse after his Hawks were embarrassed by a 37-point loss Friday night in their final exhibition game by the Orlando Magic. "It's discouraging. Sometimes, you never know what you're going to get from this team. And that won't work.'' FanHouse

"You see flashes of a team here that can play with anyone in the league, a really good team. Then other nights we're horrible, like we've never played together before,'' he said. "We have to decide, which team do we want to be. And right now, I don't know.'' FanHouse

Then he sat in Doc Rivers' office this past June, the gloom of a failed title defense hanging heavy, as the coach asked: "Do you think your teammates like playing with you?" ESPN.com

Rondo couldn't imagine any answer other than yes. Maybe teammates didn't like him, a stoic among extroverts, a kid who questioned damn near everything. But not like playing with him? Hadn't he started for a champion in his second season, with a pass-first game criticized for not including enough shots? And last season, hadn't he out-dueled Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose in a tense, seven-game playoff and been voted second-team all-defense? "I thought so," was all Rondo could muster. ESPN.com

It would be tricky even if he weren't wondering who was and wasn't with him. Asked about it, Rondo's already rigid jaw tightens. Then: "We don't have to be best buddies to win a championship." ESPN.com

The obsessiveness shows most, though, after he commits some on-court blunder. "He doesn't want to be bothered, because he's processing what he did wrong," Bibby says. "By the time you rip him, he's figured it out." Problem is, in the NBA three plays have transpired during the processing, three plays during which Rondo is in his own penalty box and Boston is playing a man down. "You're playing mad," Rivers has told him more than once. "Get past mad. It's killing you, and that's killing us." ESPN.com

The Celtics are one of the most talkative teams in the NBA, and no one knows that better than Doc Rivers. On Saturday Rivers invoked a “no talking” rule on offense during practice. “I just told everybody today that they were too loud and so I said we’re going to have a non-talk practice for the next half hour,” he explained. WEEI

“That’s a little thing that Doc feels as though that once we get to talking smack to each other here in practice that we lose our focus. But the intensity’s there, but we lose our focus,” said Rasheed Wallace. “On some plays he’s right but I think that’s just the character of some of the guys here in the gym. But hey, if that’s what Doc wants, we’ve got to try to do that. We’ve got to try to talk a little more quietly, that’s all.” WEEI

"I read a book about snipers and how they train over their target," (Allen) revealed. "How they slow their heart beat down. How if their heart beats a little too fast - if they get excited - they'll miss their target. "So I think about that and added it into my free throw shooting. How do you slow your heart down so you don't get overexcited and miss a free throw because you get nervous?" Metro West Daily News

Jackson even created a stir by drawing five fouls in nine minutes in an Oct. 9 preseason game. He served a two-game suspension for his antics, and that seems to have led him to reconsider his stance. This is what he told the Globe this past week: “I’ll be the first to admit it. I said a lot of things this summer about not wanting to be here. But this team is a lot better than I thought we would be. I have always been a man and admitted when I was wrong. This team is a lot better than I thought we could be, and I hope we continue to grow and be ready for opening night.’’ Boston Globe

In Stephen Jackson's world, there is no more drama. "It's ended for me," he said. So, there's nothing to see here. Everything's fine. Move along now. Whatever happened, happened. "And it is what it is," Jackson added. San Jose Mercury News

“I think the biggest thing is to go out there and not be selfish,’’ said Jackson, who relinquished his captaincy after his suspension. “I think that’s the best way for me to keep my composure, not be selfish. Realize I am going out there and playing for these guys, not just myself. Playing for my coaches, you know, everybody in this locker room.’’ Boston Globe

"Some guys haven't been calling me Captain Jack lately, but some still do," Jackson said. "I'm a natural leader, and I don't think a title will have anything to do with how I act or people look at me. It's just who I am. I haven't changed." San Jose Mercury News

"People need to stop making this personal," Jackson said. "I hear, 'The Warriors have done a lot for Stephen Jackson.' Well I've done a lot for the Warriors, too. They didn't make me play basketball like I have. I did that. "People keep saying that the Warriors gave me my extension. Well I earned my extension. Nobody has ever given me anything. I played hurt for three years on a broken toe. Just as much as they've done for me, I've done for the organization. We both should be thankful." San Jose Mercury News

When asked if anything positive could result from all the preseason controversy, Maggette was silent for a good 10 seconds. "Everybody on the team has continued to support one another," he finally said. "It hasn't pulled us apart, and that's a good thing." San Jose Mercury News

Coach Don Nelson said Saturday he believes a Stephen Curry-Monta Ellis backcourt gives the Warriors the best chance to win, so the rookie will be the starting point guard opening night against Houston. The Rockets will most likely start 6-foot-8 wings Shane Battier and Trevor Ariza, meaning one of the Warriors' 6-3 guards will be taking on a bigger opponent. San Francisco Chronicle

"We'll see," Nelson said. "We've got to shoot the ball well, and we've got to be fast and run. If we do those things, it will be a match-up problem for the other team, too. If we don't, we'll be at a disadvantage." Curry will probably guard Aaron Brooks, but he said he'd take a shot at guarding either Battier or Ariza. "I might be undersized, but I'd hold my own," Curry said. "I'll try to make it tough on him. He might make a shot or two over the top of me, but it won't be a cakewalk." San Francisco Chronicle

He is determined to clean up his image, though resigned to that fact that it may never happen. “People have said the worst,’’ he said. “When I got in that fight in Detroit and when I got into it at that strip club, people have said the worst. They threw stones at Jesus, you know? People have their opinions.’’ Boston Globe

Photos of Beasley sleeping next to a woman and a table of open beer bottles aboard a Heat-arranged fishing charter on Oct. 10 have hit the internet. All witnesses, including an e-mail from the captain of the boat, confirmed that Beasley did not drink any alcohol and he was just exhausted after a tough practice session. Beasley is not facing any disciplinary actions and is said not to be in danger of facing a third-strike suspension for violating any league-related substance-abuse policy. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"[It was] the fishing trip gone bad or my bad, because it was after practice and I was tired," Beasley said after Saturday's practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. "That sun was beaming down; it was the hottest day in the world. . . . Fell asleep ain't the word. "I don't drink. I don't smoke anymore. My sobriety date is 8-6-09." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Heat believed it would be an alcohol-free day cruise and knew that Beasley would be accompanied by a team staffer and Ron Pearson, his counselor and friend from the Houston drug and alcohol rehabilitation center where he spent more than a month earlier this summer. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"At no point did Michael consume or even touch any alcohol. The entire time he was accompanied by his advisor. It was my understanding that his advisor was trying to help get Michael out of the seclusion that is associated with a rehabilitation similar to what he had gone through," Captain Taft Sibley wrote in an e-mail to the team. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"I hate them, simple as that. The picture phone is one of the worst things that happened to the world," Wade said with a smile. "I think he's starting to realize when you get into one thing, other things come out. It's good he's dealing with it early, so once he gets older he knows how it is and how to deal with him being in the spotlight." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

What innocuous incidents such as these do is dramatically diminish a player's trade value, especially when they also receive mentions on outlets that receive league-wide scrutiny, such as HoopsHype.com, which was the case Saturday. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Beasley is one of the most likable and approachable guys in the Heat locker room. He's got an easy smile, and infectious laugh and a hilarious jab or two to deliver to any teammate or team employee at any given second. No one is off limits. He's still very much a 20-year-old kid having fun at an age when life is supposed to be all about fun. Except, he's a high-profile professional athlete with a checkered not-so-distant past now. So even if Beasley did absolutely nothing wrong in this latest boat photo flap other than fall asleep on the wrong couch, he's a victim of circumstances his previous actions helped to create. Miami Herald

"If you're not doing anything wrong, you shouldn't have to worry about (anything)," Beasley said Saturday. "I don't mind taking a picture with someone. A few seconds to me could make their whole day." Miami Herald

LeBron James was generally considered the best player in the NBA last season, as evidenced by his Most Valuable Player trophy. But the Cavaliers forward insists he returned for the 2009-10 season a better player. The Cavs open the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena. "I'm a much better player than (in) our last game against Orlando," he said. "I stay in the gym. You guys just see what's on TV. Cameras aren't there when I'm working out." News-Herald

Jent, a former Ohio State star, had to reconstruct James' shooting form two summers ago. It was more about fine-tuning his shot last summer. "He's added a couple of things to his game," Jent said. "He hasn't applied them yet, just because he hasn't been in situations yet to use them. He worked hard in areas he had trouble with the previous season, as far as spots on the floor. He honed in on those areas. "He became more of a consistent shooter. Last year, he shot the ball great. Make or miss, he was shooting the same shot. The difference this summer, he started at that point. The difference from the summer before, we tried to rebuild the shot a bit. We didn't mess around with his shot at all this summer. We just applied that shot to different areas on the floor. He'll be an even more consistent shooter." News-Herald

Jameer Nelson's return for the NBA Finals will go down forever as a mistake and there is only one way it can be erased. The Magic have to go back to the Finals and win. "You hear it all the time; people are always going to say that," Nelson said. "They may say it after a loss in the regular season - it's Jameer's fault. But if we win, you look like a genius." They lost and Nelson, who was thrust into the Finals after not having played in four months, was off his game. He didn't shoot well and he made some visible, costly mistakes. "I wasn't myself," said Nelson, now fully recovered from the shoulder surgery of Feb. 19. "I'm not making excuses or anything; if I had to go back and do it again, I would have played. I knew what I could give the team." The Ledger

It has been striking this preseason to see just how small Maynor is compared with some of his counterparts around the league. He’s officially 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, but Maynor called himself 170 and said he played at 165 all four years at Virigina Commonwealth. “My whole life, I ain’t been able to put on weight,” Maynor said. “But you know what? I’m going to do whatever they insist on me doing to gain that weight and if I can put on some pounds during the season, that’d be a plus. It wouldn’t never be a bad thing.” Maynor went on to joke: “I always say I’m trying to get to 185.” After they drafted him in June, the Jazz noted that Maynor did not have the benefit of a full-scale strength and conditioning program at VCU, which does not have a Division I football team. Salt Lake Tribune

Robert Horry and Antonio McDyess are as different as their ring collections. One would give a hip to Steve Nash, and the other a hand to help him up. Which is a reason they will never be the same. Even if McDyess wins here as Horry once did. They appear to be alike. Horry grew up in Andalusia, Ala, and that’s not far from Quitman, Miss., where McDyess is from. But Horry adds a technicality. He was born in Maryland, and he says that’s a substantial difference. “There’s something about those guys from the south,” he said. “They can eat anything, and do anything, and their bodies are always ripped. And I’m mad I’m not like that.” San Antonio Express-News

Horry is four years older than McDyess, and the two never played together at Alabama. Still, he was a mentor to him years ago, and he counseled McDyess after the surgeries, too. “But he got so down,” Horry said, “he didn’t want to do anything.” Not doing anything oddly helped, since McDyess needed time to heal. But to Horry, this goes back to his southern-guy theory. McDyess’ body was so freakish that it could overcome anything. San Antonio Express-News

This season, the Wizards hope they get to see what they would have been capable of if Arenas, Butler and Brendan Haywood had not been stifled by injuries since April 2007. But the preseason put a damper on those hopes; Jamison will miss at least the first three weeks with a partially dislocated shoulder. "You really want it to work," Butler said. "That's why guys put in extra work over the course of the offseason - staying late after practice, doing extra things, coming early, going over the offense, learning the offense in and out and being able to adjust and really make this thing work." Washington Times

Haywood and Jamison have said they would like to retire with the Wizards, but at the same time they understand winning is what matters. "You can't really think about that," Jamison said Friday. "It's a business, but I don't think they'd do it since we haven't been together and you haven't been able to see the potential of the team. But that's the last thing on everybody's minds. If it happens, hey... but we're just focused on winning this season." Said Haywood: "I don't think anybody's worried about the window of opportunity. You can't look that far ahead, because you'll forget what's right in front of you. And as far as capitalizing on opportunities, we didn't have our best players healthy. If you don't have your best players healthy, what opportunities do you have?" Washington Times

Carroll's grit didn't go unnoticed over the past several weeks. The 6-8 Birmingham native, capable of playing both forward positions, shined so much during Grizzlies training camp that he earned the fifth-annual Don Poier "Pride of Training Camp" Award. An unscientific, team-wide poll made Carroll the pick. Shane Battier, Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, Stromile Swift and Marc Gasol are past winners of an honor that's not sanctioned by the team, but is intended to distinguish the player who best displayed consistency and growth on the cusp of a new season. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tracy McGrady has not returned full-time to Rockets practices, but he did go overtime this week. McGrady stayed after Thursday's practice to work with center Joey Dorsey on post moves. “This is the first day we started working out,” Dorsey said Thursday. “Me and Mac talked (Wednesday) night. He was like, ‘Stop throwing the ball out of the post every time you get it. Look to score sometimes. You're the biggest one on the court.' So we came in and started working out. Houston Chronicle

Ray Allen left Celtics practice on Saturday after getting unintentionally elbowed above the left eye and knocked to the ground by Kendrick Perkins, who was playing on the same team. Allen received stitches and is not expected to miss any games. “The sad thing is it was a skeleton offense. There was no defense,” said Doc Rivers. “We run a lot of hand-off stuff as you know and it didn’t go well. It was a hand-off with Perk and Perk had his elbow up while he was supposed to be handing it off to Ray. And those are the ones that hurt because you don’t expect those cuts to come at that time.” WEEI

I just spoke with Charlotte Bobcats guard Raja Bell, following Saturday practice, about the torn ligament in his left wrist. While Bell has NOT made a final decision on whether he'll have surgery (a procedure that could put him out four months), he's working under the assumption he'll go the rest-and-rehabilitation route. Bell worked out on the sideline, his wrist heavily wrapped in bandages. He worked with a weighted ball and did some shooting -- even launching 3-pointers -- building up a bit of a sweat. The intent of this is to staying shape so that if he's out just a week or two, he'll be ready to play. Charlotte Observer

That lasting power requires people skills. Gentry, who will turn 55 on Nov. 5, always carried a home-bred humility and a geniality that win over players today, just as those traits won over Shelby High classmates when they picked Gentry, instead of the school's quarterback, to be Student Council vice president. The expensive empowerment that NBA teams have given him requires a belief in his work ethic and character. Gentry found those qualities in his parents. The blue-collar, no-nonsense couple raised six kids and have as flawless a reputation in Shelby as does their son, arguably the town's most famous product this side of bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs. Arizona Republic

"I'm not one of these sad stories out of the ghetto," Gentry said. "We had food every night. We sat down as a family. When Christmas came, we had presents under the tree. On Easter, everybody had a new outfit. My parents were married 63 years before my mom passed away (in 2005; his father died in June). I came from a loving, very disciplined home. When my mom said, 'Be home at 11,' I was home at 10:59." Or what? "You don't even want to know," he said. Arizona Republic

Gentry's parents, G.H. and Bulah Mae, did all they could to provide a different life for their kids. G.H. never went to school and could not read. He worked in a bakery, as a school janitor and at a polyester mill factory, not missing a day of work for his final 11 years. He was a deacon for 67 years at Maple Springs Baptist Church, which sits on Maple Springs Church Road with a stained-glass window in memory of G.H. and Bulah Mae. On Sundays, 10 rows of pews there fill with relatives. "I never met anyone who disliked my dad," Gentry said. "My dad was truly a saint." Arizona Republic

"A successful season for us is if we really re-develop our identity not just as a running team, but playing hard and playing together and really coming together as a team," said Kerr, the Suns' general manager. "I'd be really surprised if that didn't happen. I think the circumstances are right." Arizona Republic

The Chuckster is tiring of criticizing teams and wants the responsibility to build a winner with his own hands. “It’s time for me to be a general manager,’’ said Barkley, who has been at TNT for eight years. “I think everybody around me knows it’s time for me to take a different challenge. “I always want to keep going as a person. I love my job. I love the people I work with. But now it’s time for me to take on another challenge as a man. I need to grow as a person and it’s time for me. “And certainly I can do a better job than some of these guys have been doing.’’ Boston Globe

“If a good opportunity came up, I would take it,’’ said Barkley, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. “I think people sometimes get confused with taking a job and taking a bad job. Every job is not a good job, but I think if a good job came up, I would take it. But I am not going to leave TNT for no bad job.’’ Boston Globe

In his years as an analyst, Barkley has become a stern authority on league issues and troublesome players. And his take on social networking - players sending out Twitter and Facebook updates - is pure honesty: “Things like that are a waste of time. First of all, I have always been very adamant about some loser worrying about what some celebrity is doing during the day. [The player is] a loser and he should be concentrating on his skill as a player and his other aspect of his life, learning to invest his money, his family life, investing his time and energy into that. “Sitting around talking to complete strangers about what you are doing during the day, I have been very critical of that. Professional sports is not a babysitting service. These guys at some point got to grow up and mature.’’ Boston Globe

As the NBA season kicks off this week, James is entering the final year of his contract with the Cavs, and there's plenty of media and fan speculation that he might bolt to a big-city market such as New York City when he becomes a free agent. The question of whether he stays or goes likely will hound James all season. If he does leave, the psychological blow to Cleveland sports fans would be immense. But it also would be a huge financial blow to the team itself. ''The value of the team would diminish significantly,'' said Forbes National Editor Michael Ozanian, one of the authors of Forbes.com's annual ''Business of Basketball'' report. ''I wouldn't want to put an exact dollar amount on it, but it could easily be 10 percent.'' Akron Beacon Journal

''Ticket revenue is the bread and butter of the industry,'' said Jim Kahler, executive director of the Center for Sports Administration at Ohio University and former senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Cavs from 1991 to 2002. ''If you don't have people in the building, it's going to have an impact on your sponsorships.'' Akron Beacon Journal

Hannah, who hasn't eaten solid foods in three years, said recently: "When I was younger, I didn't think death was controllable. But during the last six months, I realized I could control my body and my mind and quit living, and I wanted to. I didn't have much of a life." Hannah's parents turned to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. All Hannah wanted was some tickets for this season's Nuggets games. She got more. Coach George Karl showed up with three season tickets, and backstage passes for every game. And the coach was accompanied by J.R. Smith. "I was nervous when I met J.R. I'd heard all the bad stuff about him — the accident thing (in which Smith's best friend died) and how he spent time in jail and that he was immature," Hannah said. "I didn't think he'd be comfortable with a sick kid, and I didn't know if I would like him. "But J.R. was so cool. People don't want to touch me because they mistakenly think they'll get my disease. J.R. just reached out and hugged me. It was a very special moment." Denver Post

Because of the illness, the blood rushes to, and badly swells, her feet. J.R. presented Hannah with a pair of his size 15 sneakers. Then, on a recent night, J.R. — wearing a tuxedo! — and his driver joined the Marklin family at a charity gala, danced with the little girls at the adjoining tables and participated in raising $200,000 for Make-A-Wish. Hannah is "bummed that J.R. won't get to play at the beginning of the season." Smith has been suspended for seven games. But, she's optimistic the team will do well. "The Nuggets are going to have a big year. I think they'll beat everybody, but I'm an optimist now." J.R., who has a young daughter, and Hannah have entirely different backgrounds, "but I think we get along so well because he is genuine, and he's funny, and I'm pretty humorous — sarcastic — and he can take it and give it. I wish everybody could see the side of him that I have. "At first, I thought J.R. met with me because he was forced to, but that's not how it is. I can tell. He is turning his life around." Perhaps J.R. is growing up. "He wants to live a better life. I want to live a good life," she said. Karl is noticing a changing of the guard for Smith. "J.R. is enjoying his service," Karl said. "His consciousness towards what he's doing is sincere and real." Denver Post

Gilbert downplayed the Forbes.com valuation, saying real value is determined when a franchise is sold. ''I'm glad they think that,'' he said. ''But we won't know that for a long time because we plan to be around for a long time and don't plan on selling the team.'' Akron Beacon Journal

Riley reiterated last week that the plan from the start was to have Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning, whose No. 33 was retired last March, stand alone for their work in lifting the franchise to perennial playoff contender in the late '90s. "Zo and Tim have sort of transcended," Riley said. But after a suitable waiting period, Riley plans to look back to the franchise's startup era, from its 1988 expansion season to his arrival in 1995 as coach and lead executive. "We want to build a real loyal alumni," he said, "not only the players who are going to have their jerseys retired, but also the ones that have played here, given great service, and make them feel welcome." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Hardaway has two names in particular he would put into nomination. "A lot of people don't really mention Glen Rice's name," Hardaway said. "Glen Rice did a lot for this organization before he went on to the Charlotte Hornets and L.A. Lakers to win a championship. And Keith Askins is a great person, a great athlete. He was a great, great teammate. It should be one of those two." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Eddie House delivers an absolutely hysterical impersonation of Ray Allen. RedsArmy.com

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